BAGHDAD - Iraq's central criminal court has sentenced five foreign nationals to between two years and life imprisonment for joining the insurgency, the Iraqi government said in a statement on Monday. Syrian Anas Mohamed Khaled was sentenced to life in prison after being arrested in the former rebel bastion of Fallujah and being convicted of planning to lead "terrorist" operations against security forces. Another man captured in Fallujah, Saudi Abdel al-Majid Fayad al-Nizza was also given a life term on charges of crossing into Iraq from Syria to wage holy war (jihad) against the Iraqi government. Syrian citizen Issam Anas Mahmud received a six-year jail sentences for entering Iraq illegally with the aim of joining terrorist organisations.
A Libyan, Fathallah Abdel Aati Al-Rabati, also arrested in Fallujah, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for entering Iraq illegally from Syria and having conducted "terrorist actions" against Iraqi security forces. Egyptian Mohamed Hassan Abdul Aal was sentenced to two years imprisonment for having an expired entry visa after he was found with three suspected insurgents in a house with weapons and ammunition.
Iraqi and US security officials concede that the foreign fighter component of the insurgency, while significant is far smaller than the home-grown element sprung from Sunni Muslim grievances, radical Islam, nationalism, loyalty to Saddam Hussein and criminality. The central criminal court was established under the US occupation to try major criminal and security cases. Many of the defendants who come before the court are held in US custody. |